Encorafenib, cetuximab and chemotherapy in BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer: a randomized phase 3 trial
Published report from the BREAKWATER trial registered as NCT04607421, in Nature Medicine (2025), chosen as the most cited paper whose own text cites the registry id.
Overview
Encorafenib + cetuximab (EC) is approved for previously treated BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) based on the BEACON phase 3 study. Historically, first-line treatment of BRAF V600E-mutant mCRC with chemotherapy regimens has had limited efficacy. The phase 3 BREAKWATER study investigated EC+mFOLFOX6 versus standard of care (SOC) in patients with previously untreated BRAF V600E mCRC. The dual primary endpoint of progression-free survival is event driven; data were not mature at data cutoff. BREAKWATER met the other dual primary endpoint of objective response rate, demonstrating significant and clinically relevant improvement in objective response rate (EC+mFOLFOX6: 60.9%; SOC: 40.0%; odds ratio, 2.443; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.403-4.253; 99.8% CI: 1.019-5.855; one-sided P = 0.0008). Median duration of response was 13.9 versus 11.1 months. At this first interim analysis of overall survival, the hazard ratio was 0.47 (95% CI: 0.318-0.691; repeated CI: 0.166-1.322). Serious adverse event rates were 37.7% versus 34.6%. The safety profiles were consistent with those known for each agent. BREAKWATER demonstrated a significantly improved response rate that was durable for first-line EC+mFOLFOX6 versus SOC in patients with BRAF V600E mCRC. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04607421.
Indexed on Europe PMC as PubMed record 39863775 (DOI 10.1038/s41591-024-03443-3). Its abstract cites the registry id NCT04607421, which is how it was matched to this trial; no figure has been checked by an editor.
This is the paper Europe PMC returns for registry id NCT04607421 with the most citations, so it is the natural first reading for anyone following the BREAKWATER trial. Read the abstract above alongside the trial page and the registry entry; the record was linked automatically and its figures have not been checked by hand.
- Matched to the trial by the registry id cited in the Europe PMC record; the summary reproduces the record's abstract and no figure has been verified against the full paper.